Antithumb-sucking device



Dec; 13, 1927.

' W. F. M' LACHLAN ANTI- THUMB-SUCKING DEVICE Filed June 2, 1924 Patented Dec. 13, 192.7.

WIVILLIAM F. MACLACHLAN, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

AlITI'IHUMB-SUCKING DEVICE.

Application filed June 2, 1924. Serial No. 717,314.

This invention relates to improvements in anti-thumb sucking devices and consists of the matters hereinafter described and more particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

The object of the invention is to provide a device which may be readily attached to the thumb or finger most generally used in the habit of thumb or finger sucking, which device will discourage and will positively break such a habit,-and this without interfering in any way with the normal use of said thumb or finger.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a device, which may be readily applied'to the offending thumb or finger, and includes a flexible attaching device adapted to be easily and quickly secured to and removed from the wrist.

These objects of the invention as well as the many advantages thereof will more fully appear as I proceed with my specification.

In the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspective view of my improved anti-thumb sucker as it appears when applied to the offending thumb of a childs band.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the device on an enlarged scale.

Fig. 3 is a top plan view of the device.

Fig. 1 is a longitudinal section through a contractile coiled spring embodied in my improved device.

Referring now to that embodiment of the invention illustrated in the accompanying drawing :The device consists of a thimble like guard adapted to be applied to the thumb or finger and to extend up to thefirst joint thereof, and a flexible attaching member in the form of a fine chain which is connected at one end to the guard, the other end of the chain being intended to be wrapped one or more turns about the wrist to hold the guard upon' said thumb or finger.

5 indicates the body of a thimble like guard preferably made of silver or other suitable material and which is of a size adapted to receive or be slipped over the offending thumb or finger, and of a length so as to terminate at the first joint thereof. The outer-end of said guard is defined by two transversely curved bands 66 which are connected at their ends to the body of the guard. and intersect at the axis of the said body to provide a plurality of substantially triangular ventilation openings 7--7 between small diameter.

said bands, there being another ventilation opening 8 provided at the intersection of said bands. Secured to the'guard body, at the ends. of the bands 66 is a circumferential projection in the form of a radially extending fiat ring 9. V

The open end of the body of said thimble like guard, has a bead 10 and between said bead and said radial flat ring 9is provided a plurality of longitudinally extending slots 11-11, which are arranged in planes belink chain is secured to provide a loop 131 -A cross member 14; also made of a fine link chain is .attached at its ends to the chain of the loop 13 as shown in Fig. 2.

15 indicates a flexible member of a predetermined length which is attached at one end to the loop 13 as will later appear and is adapted to be wound about the wrist to secure the thimble like guard upo-nthe thumb. Said flexible member is in the form of a fine link chain with an eye 16 at one end, through which the loop 13 freely passes and with a spring snap ring 17 at the other end, similar. to those used on watch chains toconnect one of said chains to the bow-of a watch. interposed in the chain 15 prefervablynear the ring 16'isan elasticmember injthe form of a contractile spring 18 of having a predetermined amount of slack therein andbeing connected at its ends to-the ends of the spring 18. This spring 18 and chain 18 permits the chain 15 to expand or stretch to limited predetermined length under the action of the bending of the thumb when the guard is upon the thumb, which length is not enough to allow the thimble like guard to be slipped off the thumb.

Preferably but not necessarily so, a portion of the body of the guard 5 between the bead 10 and flat radial ring 9 is roughened as by the knurling 19 as shown in Fig. 2.

To apply the device in position, the guard body is slipped over the thumb with the cross chain 1 1 engaging the under part of the thumb and with the ears l212 on op- Inside the spring is a fieX- ible member 18? 111 the form of asmall chain posite sides thereof. The free end of the chain'15 is then drawn over the back of the hand and is wrapped one or two turns about the wrist and the spring snap .ring' 17 is hooked into one of the links of said chain as shown in Fig. 1. This securely attaches the device to the thumb or finger so that it cannot be removed by the child.

As the thumbs and fingers of children of that age'who practice thumb sucking are supple and limber, the cross chain let connected to the loop 13 prevents the device from being slipped off the thumb by the ,child even though the thumb is bent backsoon dry out because of the ventilation through the openings provided therefor.

The spring 18 with the chain length 18 therein permits the thumb to be bent in the usual normal movement of the thumb so that no discomfort results from the wearing of the device. Furthermore, the end of the thumb is so enclosed as to prevent the biting of the nail thereof, which in many instances is a habit which accompanies thumb sucking in children of more mature age.

Thedevice will discourage the child from putting the thumb or finger in the mouth while awake, because of the realization of the impossibility of satisfaction when the device is upon the thumb or finger, it being borne inmind that only one thumb or a certain finger is used in this practice, and the child will not get the satisfaction desired by the use of another or different thumb or finger. Should the child in its sleep, due to habit alone insert the thumb or finger in its mouth, it will be shortly withdrawn because it receives no satisfaction therefrom, not

only because direct contact between the thumb and mouth parts cannot be made but also because of the strangeness of the feeling of the device while the thumb or finger is in the mouth.

The device is sanitary and may be readily sterilized in any convenient manner. It produces no discomfort when in place and cannot be removed by the child.

l/Vhile in describing my invention, I have referred to certain details of construction and arrangement of parts, I do not wish to be limited thereto except as may be pointed out in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. An anti-thumb sucking device comprising a substantially rigid thimble-like member adapted for application to the thumb or finger, said thimble-like member having openings in one end thereof and'being provided adjacent said end with a rigid radially projecting member disposed annularly to the said member, a flexible loop connected at its ends to said thimble like member, and a flexible member connected to said loop and adapted to be wrapped around the wrist to secure said thimble-like member upon a thumb or finger.

2. An anti-thumb sucking device comprising a substantially rigid thimble-like member adapted for application to the thumb or finger, said thimbledike member having openings in one end thereof and being provided adjacent said end with a rigid radially projecting member disposed annularly to the said member, a flexible loop connected at its ends to said thimble-likemember, a cross chain connecting the sides of said loop, and a second chain having an eye at one end operatively connected to said loop so that the loop may slide therethrough.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my invention, I affix my signature this 29th day of. May, 1.924.

WILLIAM F. h LioLACHLAN. 

